Great at Grammar, Bad at Speaking? How to Get Students Conversing in English

Great at Grammar, Bad at Speaking? How to Get Students Conversing in English

Many students in Asia can ace a grammar test but struggle to have a simple conversation.

They’ve spent years memorizing rules, but when you ask, “How was your weekend?” they freeze up or respond with just one word: "Fine."

Why does this happen? And more importantly, how do we fix it?

Here are three key reasons students are great at grammar but bad at speaking—and practical solutions to help them finally start talking in English!

1. They’ve Been Trained to Prioritize Accuracy Over Communication

Why it happens:Many students have been conditioned to fear mistakes because traditional education focuses on correct grammar, not fluency.

They’re so worried about getting a sentence 100% correct that they prefer to say nothing rather than risk making an error.

How to fix it:

✅ Shift the focus from perfection to communication – Encourage students to get their message across, even if grammar isn’t perfect.

✅ Use fluency-building activities – Try "speed conversations," where students must talk for 30 seconds without stopping.

✅ Reward effort, not just accuracy – Praise students for trying, even if they make mistakes.

The goal is confidence, not perfection. Once students stop fearing mistakes, they start speaking more.

2. They Don’t Get Enough Speaking Practice

Why it happens:Most classroom time is spent on reading, writing, and grammar exercises, with very little actual speaking.

Even in English class, the teacher talks more than the students.

How to fix it:

✅ Apply the 70/30 Rule – Students should be speaking at least 70% of the time, while the teacher only talks 30%.

✅ Use “Think-Pair-Share” – Instead of calling on one student at a time, have them discuss in pairs before sharing with the class.

✅ Use structured conversation prompts – Give students sentence starters so they don’t freeze up (e.g., “I think because .”).

The more they practice speaking, the easier it becomes.

3. They Don’t Know What to Say

Why it happens:Many students lack the vocabulary or don’t know how to start a conversation, so they freeze when asked open-ended questions.

How to fix it:

✅ Teach functional phrases – Instead of just vocabulary, teach useful chunks like "I’m not sure, but I think..." or "That reminds me of..."

✅ Use role-play and real-life situations – Get students to practice English in practical contexts like ordering food, asking for directions, or making small talk.

✅ Make speaking part of daily lessons – Even grammar exercises can end with students discussing their answers instead of just writing them.

When students know what to say and how to say it, they’ll start speaking more confidently.

Final Thoughts: Make Speaking a Daily Habit

Grammar is important, but speaking is a skill that must be practiced daily.

✅ Focus on communication, not just accuracy

✅ Give students plenty of speaking opportunities

✅ Teach useful conversation skills, not just vocabulary

Try these strategies, and you’ll see your students speaking English more fluently and confidently! 🚀